MILTON KEYNES,february 22,2024 – Luke Littler,the reigning world champion,narrowly avoided an upset in the first round of the world Masters in Milton Keynes,demonstrating the pressure cooker environment of professional darts.
Littler Survives Scare at World Masters
The 19-year-old world number one battled back from the brink against Mike de Decker in a thrilling contest.
- Despite an initial set win, Littler faced a serious challenge from Belgian player Mike de Decker.
- De Decker had a match dart, but missed, allowing Littler to capitalize.
- Littler admitted the match was “tough” and acknowledged De Decker’s strong performance.
Littler secured his progression to the second round, but not without a significant fight. After claiming the opening set, De Decker leveled the match with a stunning 121 checkout, completed by a bullseye. The belgian then surged ahead, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five set affair.
What makes a champion? The ability to perform under pressure,and Luke Littler certainly demonstrated that tonight,as he fought back from the brink of defeat to secure a hard-fought victory.
Did you know? – Luke Littler, at 16, became the youngest player to reach the World Darts Championship final in January 2024, capturing the attention of fans worldwide and solidifying his status as a rising star.
De Decker had a golden possibility to seal the win,hitting two treble 20s in an attempt at a 142 checkout. However, his third dart narrowly missed double 11. Littler seized the moment, hitting double 16 to tie the match and then opening with a spectacular 180 on his way to winning the deciding set.
“I didn’t get going,” Littler conceded after the match, speaking on ITV. “in the second and third set, Mike deserved to win them. I had to fight back and that’s what I did. I got over the line, found a bit of form and got the win.”
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quick fact: Mike de Decker’s 121 checkout showcased his skill and put immense pressure on the young champion.
The victory underscores Littler’s resilience and ability to perform when it matters moast, even when facing a persistent opponent like De Decker. The World Masters continues, and Littler will look to build on this hard-fought win as he progresses through the tournament.
Who: Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, faced Mike de Decker, a Belgian darts player, in the first round of the World Masters.What: Littler narrowly avoided an upset, battling back from a 2-1 deficit to win a thrilling match. Why: de Decker put immense pressure on Littler with strong checkouts, including a 121, and even had a match dart. How: Littler capitalized on a missed match dart by De Decker, hitting double 16 to tie the match and then securing the deciding set with a strong performance, including an opening 180.
